Illegal trade in songbirds takes on a sinister EU note
By Tom ShielIRELAND'S most melodious songbirds - including goldfinches and linnets - are being trapped illegally to service a growing market in southern European countries which are rapidly losing their resident songster populations. The criminal trade has been condemned as "sinister" by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy (IWC) which says the practice, if continued, could mean a serious depletion of our songbird stocks which are already being hit by changing agricultural practices. John Murphy, Countryside Officer with the IWC, explained yesterday (Tuesday): "Songbirds such as linnets and finches are in particular demand in Mediterranean countries where resident songbird populations have been seriously depleted. "There is a tradition of caged songbirds in these southern European countries. Since it is now very difficult to find wild-songbirds in these Mediterranean areas traders have switched their attention to northern European countries such as Ireland". Mr. Murphy said there was very little demand for caged songbirds nowadays in Ireland in sharp contrast to three or four decades ago when many homes had cages with resident "performers". The trapping of songbirds is prohibited under both Irish and EU laws but there is evidence that the regulations are being flouted. At a court in north Mayo last week, a man was charged with hunting wild birds and setting a trap for them - a small container with bird lime. The practice was described by Wild Life Officer, Denis Strong as cruel and often fatal for birds. Mr. Strong said there was a market for songbirds particularly in larger towns. The value of a bird ranged between £20 and £30, Mr. Strong explained. He added that the use of bird lime was particularly cruel in that a concoction of glue and linseed oil, was placed on twigs and small branches, and other species could also be affected. Garda Supt Tony McNamara, who told the court he understood there was a market for wild birds in this country, said he suspected the defendant was building up towards a commercial enterprise. In view of the fact that the defendant had pleaded to the charge and had no previous convictions. Judge William Earley applied the Probation Act but ordered the forfeiture of all cages. |
